60 Percent of San Angelo ISD Students Qualify for Practically Free Lunches

SAN ANGELO, TX — As an indication of the number of families living at low-income levels in San Angelo, 60 percent of the San Angelo ISD students qualify for the District’s Reduced Lunch Program.

The 40 percent who do not qualify for the program will pay a nominal $2.50 for elementary school lunches and $2.75 for lunches served in secondary schools. If the child qualifies for the reduced lunch program, the cost of the lunch is just 40 cents in all schools, the same price lunches cost in 1970.

The reduced price lunch program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program sets the income eligibility based upon the number of people in the household. A family of three that earns less than $38,443 is eligible for the 40-cent lunch program. The Federal Register has more on this year’s eligibility criteria. The federal poverty level is $20,780 annual revenue.

Other eligibility criteria include automatic eligibility from enrollment in programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP; and the child's status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant or displaced by a disaster.

The San Angelo ISD has a new computer system that expedites a parent’s enrollment of their child in the program.

"The application is received into the CNS office via the software and is processed all throughout the day resulting in benefits to families the same day they apply for benefits. CNS is hopeful that making the online application available to families via a computer or their smart phone will allow them to submit the information with greater privacy and greater efficiency in the application process,” said Child Nutrition Services director Michelle Helms. Parents can apply online. Applications for free and reduced-price meals at San Angelo ISD facilities are accepted throughout the year and families must apply each school year. To apply, visit www.myschoolapps.com.

For questions, contact the Child Nutrition Services department at (325) 659-3615.